North East High School junior Megan Moylan, 16, competes in the North East Invitational at Green Meadows Golf Course in North East Township on Aug. 23.GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

BLAIRSVILLE -- Gusting winds. Tough pin placements.

North East golfer Megan Moylan didn't let any of that bother her Monday at the PIAA West Regional. Moylan, a junior, had three birdies in a four-hole stretch as she shot a 5-over-par 77 to win the Class AA competition at Tom's Run Golf Course.

She was one of seven District 10 players in the four classifications to advance to next week's PIAA tournament at Heritage Hills Golf Resort and Conference Center in York.

Moylan, the District 10 runner-up, advanced in Class AA, along with Hickory's Rosy Hearns, the D-10 champion, and Villa Maria's Annie Ciacchini.

In Class AA boys action, Trevor Rodgers of Cambridge Springs, Brian Ropiecki of North East and Teven Vargo of Harbor Creek earned berths in the state tournament.

Slippery Rock's Brett Rinker, the D-10 Class AAA champ, had an even-par round of 72 to take second in the Class AAA boys regional. He is the lone D-10 Class AAA golfer to advance to next week's action.

North East coach Troy Hassenplug and Moylan had been concerned Sunday that severe winds and rain might haunt golfers Monday. However, the course was dry and the winds, although gusting, were not as rough as they anticipated.

After opening on hole No. 13 in the shotgun start, Moylan was 4-over through six holes. She then turned around her day by getting birdies on hole Nos. 5, 6 and 8 on the way to an even-par 36 on the front nine.

"I think that gave me some momentum after a rough start," Moylan said of her four-hole run. "I thought I hit the ball pretty well for the most part."

Moylan will make her third trip to the state tournament in three years. She said her previous experience at Tom's Run might have helped with difficult pin placements.

"A lot of course management goes into this course," said Moylan, who hit 11 of the 18 greens in regulation and was putting from the fringe two other times. "I felt more confidence about where I should hit the ball."

"I think it's going to be tremendously different this year (at the state meet)," Hassenplug said. "She's definitely a better player than she's been in years past."

Hearns, meanwhile, placed third while shooting a consistent round of 82 to tie for third. The senior recorded a 41 on both sides.

Ciacchini, a sophomore, earned the last of 10 spots in the PIAA Class AA tournament with an 89. She shot 47-42 while edging two other players by one stroke.

Hickory junior Alena Lancia shot a 100 to place 18th out of 21 competitors.

In Class AAA, District 10's champion and lone regional qualifier, Megan Kaverman, did not advance. The McDowell junior carded a 91 (46-45) and placed eighth. The top six advanced from the regional field of 10.

"I'm proud of her season," McDowell coach Ryan Bickel said. "She fought hard but had a tough day because of the conditions."

Going into Monday's round, Harbor Creek coach Patrick Bruce and Vargo felt an 80 might not be enough to qualify for the PIAA tournament and a 79 would be necessary. After shooting a 7-over 43 on the front, Vargo closed with a 1-over 37 that featured birdies on the two back-nine par-3s to narrowly qualify.

"The par threes set up nice for him," Bruce said. "He had a chance to hone in on those in the practice round and it worked out to his benefit."

Ropiecki was just 2-over after his first nine holes, but a double bogey on the par-4 sixth hole left him in a precarious position. He managed to par two of the final three holes to finish with an 80.

"He had a real steady round today," North East coach Jon Sedelmyer said. "He struggled on the last couple holes, but I thought he was really steady."

Rodgers double-bogeyed Nos. 4 and 8 on the front nine en route to a 4-over 40, but he recovered with just two bogeys on the back to finish tied for eighth with a 78.

In Class AAA, Rinker was 2-over after the front nine, but he birdied Nos. 11, 12 and 18 to finish with a 2-under 34 on the back for an even-par 72. He won his first District 10 championship after finishing tied for second each of the previous three years.

Strong Vincent's John Fosco also competed, shooting an 88 to tie for 21st.